DES MOINES, Iowa — It has been nearly three years since a law was passed allowing families to use education savings accounts, or ESAs, to help pay for private school expenses.
The 2025-26 school year marked the first time families of any income level were eligible to apply. Since then, private school enrollment has increased while public school enrollment has declined.
Enrollment in Catholic schools statewide increased by about 3% during the 2025-26 school year compared to last year. According to the Iowa Catholic Conference, Catholic school enrollment reached 26,095 students as of October 2025, an increase of more than 800 students this school year. The conference says 98% of those students received an ESA…